Guitars going out of tune

[msmith4432]

I have had the worst problem in the last 2 weeks with my guitars slipping out of tune. Live I typically play a Gibson LP standard as well as a gibson custom 57 vos. Both are staying in tune poorly and I have had both recently to the guitar tech for a set up. I know LPs are notorious for slipping out but this has been really frustrating. Maybe it's the humidity down here in South Lousisana wreaking havoc on my guitars, but has anybody else ever had a bout with this problem

[a.hun]

New strings?

Properly stretched in?

Same gauge as before?

Nut lube needed?

What did the tech actually do? Any truss rod adjustments?

LPs needn't be any worse at staying in tune than most other guitars...


Andy.

[Thinline_slim]

New strings?

Properly stretched in?

Same gauge as before?

Nut lube needed?

What did the tech actually do? Any truss rod adjustments?

LPs needn't be any worse at staying in tune than most other guitars...


Andy.

^^^ This.

And if you think LPs are tough to keep in tune, try something with a Bigsby some time! I use nut lube for those pretty much every string change on a D, G strings and sometimes the high B/E.

[Les Paul Lover]

Did you change string gauge?

Even staying with 10-46,say, different brands have different gauges for the in between strings?


My LP is VERY stable tuning wise.

[msmith4432]

Thank for the responses, no the string gauge stayed the same. The tech was suppose to do a full set up, adjust intonation. On my 57 he actually set it up twice because it was slipping out of tune and he did it a second time for free. Lube, I'll have to ask him if he tried it. Truss rod, maybe it needs checked but its weird that its both guitars.

[thelatrobe33]

Thank for the responses, no the string gauge stayed the same. The tech was suppose to do a full set up, adjust intonation. On my 57 he actually set it up twice because it was slipping out of tune and he did it a second time for free. Lube, I'll have to ask him if he tried it. Truss rod, maybe it needs checked but its weird that its both guitars.

Is it possible your "tech" is a crook and doesn't know what he's doing? I've watched YouTube videos and done setups myself that were better than what some "experts" have done. I have a '77 LP and it has beautiful intonation. I don't think LPs are that unstable... SGs on the other hand

[Bensen]

New strings?

Properly stretched in?

Same gauge as before?

Nut lube needed?

What did the tech actually do? Any truss rod adjustments?

LPs needn't be any worse at staying in tune than most other guitars...


Andy.

Jepp. My Les Pauls stay in tune great. I always did the setup myself and learned a lot about my guitars, wich helped me to evne play better. Try it, it's easy ;D

[Invin]

Do you play them a lot other than live? I don't have a Les Paul, but I have an ESP Eclipse and was only playing it maybe once a week for a period of time, and every time I did it would slide out of tune. However, if I played it every day, it seemed to settle right in and become very stable. Maybe jam with them more prior to the gigs if you're only busting them out when you play live?

I also second the suggestions to set them up yourself, at least once. It's a really good feeling when you know what needs fixing and how to fix it!

[Randy Bass]

How do your nuts look? That's a very common problem with Gibsons. They don't cut the nuts well enough at the factory.

[apocalypsedude]

My first thought would be the tuning pegs. How old are the ones on your guitars? I have a 92 SG Standard, got it brand new back in '92, around '98 or so it was slipping out of tune bad, could not keep the guitar in tune no matter what I did, drove me nuts. Put a set of Sperzel locking tuners on and never looked back. Did the same to a 93 Les Paul Standard as soon as I picked it up in 2000. Both guitars stay in tune extremely well ever since installing Sperzels. Now I also have a 2006 Les Paul Classic with the "green" Gibson Delux tuners that come stock, its my main gigging guitar now, I have had the guitar for a year and a half and haven't had any tuning problems YET. But usually on Gibsons its those stock tuning pegs that are the culprit. Heck any low end guitar that's made in China or Korea usually has tuning stability problems because one of the ways they cut costs is by using cheap tuners on em.

[msmith4432]

Do you play them a lot other than live? I don't have a Les Paul, but I have an ESP Eclipse and was only playing it maybe once a week for a period of time, and every time I did it would slide out of tune. However, if I played it every day, it seemed to settle right in and become very stable. Maybe jam with them more prior to the gigs if you're only busting them out when you play live?

I also second the suggestions to set them up yourself, at least once. It's a really good feeling when you know what needs fixing and how to fix it!

Very good suggestion, I usually practice with another guitar. I don't think my tech is a crook because he has to keep setting it up for free over and over if I'm not happy. It's his stores policy. I don't know how to set up a guitar but I'm going to learn. A good friend of mine is a tech in Tennessee and I'm moving back there soon so I'm going to,get him to teach me

[msmith4432]

How do your nuts look? That's a very common problem with Gibsons. They don't cut the nuts well enough at the factory.

Checked the nut today, put a little graphite in it, hope it helps

[OrangePaul]

Get your nuts lubed up I'd say

Or as Randy suggested you might want to get them looked at


Seriously though I used to spend more time tuning my LP than playing it, until I started using pencil lead in there...

[msmith4432]

Get your nuts lubed up I'd say

Or as Randy suggested you might want to get them looked at


Seriously though I used to spend more time tuning my LP than playing it, until I started using pencil lead in there...

So you just put some pencil lead in? I tried that tonight we will see if it works. Hope so

[ironlung40]

Do you play them a lot other than live? I don't have a Les Paul, but I have an ESP Eclipse and was only playing it maybe once a week for a period of time, and every time I did it would slide out of tune. However, if I played it every day, it seemed to settle right in and become very stable. Maybe jam with them more prior to the gigs if you're only busting them out when you play live?

I also second the suggestions to set them up yourself, at least once. It's a really good feeling when you know what needs fixing and how to fix it!

Very good suggestion, I usually practice with another guitar. I don't think my tech is a crook because he has to keep setting it up for free over and over if I'm not happy. It's his stores policy. I don't know how to set up a guitar but I'm going to learn. A good friend of mine is a tech in Tennessee and I'm moving back there soon so I'm going to,get him to teach me

Where at in TN? That's where I live.